I never would have guessed that one of my favorite basketball coaches would be a dentist. I also would have never guessed that this dentist-coach would present me with one of the most pivotal moments in not just my career — but in my life.In 1985 Dr. Michael Gallivan started the first AAU team in the Albany-Troy area for the most serious players in CYO basketball. I remember the first few tryouts at St. Agnes in Cohoes and how nervous I was to be competing with and against all of my arch rivals while our fathers lined the sidelines, and wondered how so many of us would make just one team. The tryout ran at least one weekend, if not two. I remember sitting in the tight gym space at decision time, and seeing Doc in his thick hair, sweater over a collared shirt and dress pants. With his serious voice, he said that the coaching staff had decided to pick an A and B team.He called out the names. When I realized I had not made the A team, I decided not to make eye contact with my dad as we all exited the gym. I remember hearing others mutter to their parents that the tryouts were rigged against them and what mattered most was whether or not your dad was on the coaching staff or if you were close with one of the main players. I said nothing, and neither did my dad, which was a shock to me given how much he supported me since my first game, as my firm and demanding coach.We got into our station wagon, and both of us shut our doors, still not able to look at each other. I sat for a second in the silence.Knowing I’d heard the other girls saying they were going to quit, my dad asked, “What are you going to do?”“I’m going back.”Dad started up the engine.By the end of the summer, I was starting for the A team.I was just one of 200 players who went through the American Eagles program and ended up earning a full Division I basketball scholarship (to Northwestern University). My sister also earned a full scholarship (Rider University), as did four of my high school teammates (George Mason, William & Mary). The American Eagles also created opportunities for 100 young women to play Division II basketball.To read rest of story, click link in bio.